Gutter System

ABSTRACT

The present invention is gutter system formed with a building gutter having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity, a one or more openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel that is a water overflow outlet, said outlet positioned away from said interior side.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLCIATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of an claims benefit to U.S.provisional patent application 63/104,708 filed Oct. 23, 2020 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some roof designs allow rainwater to gain relatively fast speeds beforereaching the gutter, thus requiring the gutter front to be elevated tocapture the water so it drains down inside the gutter instead of flowingover the top. Water flowing over the top would ultimately result inrendering the gutter useless. Many gutter fronts and backs are levelwith each other. This presents common problems with both configurationswhen the gutter, downspouts and underground drainage system becomesclogged and water has nowhere to go but into the building causing waterdamage.

There is a need for a new gutter system to address current deficiencies.The present invention address is this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method ofescape for rainwater in overfilled gutters before causing water damageto the building. Not only does the invention solve a very commonproblem, but also will alert building owners and caretakers of aplugged-up gutter and drainage systems without requiring the climbing ona roof for inspection.

The system is constructed and arranges with a plurality of overflowslots that are on the top side of a corrugation so they are not visiblefrom the ground but the slots are lower than the back of the gutterallowing the overfilled gutters to drain from the front before causingwater damage to the building.

The system and method includes a gutter having overflow slots on thefront side of the gutter just lower than the back side level where it isattached to the building to eliminate interior water damage to thebuilding when downspouts, gutter and underground drainage system becomesclogged with debris and backs up. If the gutter has a tall flange on thefront side or the front side of the gutter is level with the back sidelike most standard gutter when water backs up it will have a way ofescape without causing damage to the building.

This configuration also allows building owners and care takers torecognize a drainage problem before building damage occurs withoutclimbing on the roof for inspection.

The drainage slots are not visible from lower levels allowing overflowfunction without affecting aesthetics.

In providing a gutter having overflow slots in the front, the inventionallows for backed up water due to clogged gutter, downspouts orunderground drainage a way of escape without causing damage to thebuilding.

Residential and commercial gutters with elevated front flanges willdrain before entering the building. Gutters with a front flange that islevel with the back of the gutter allows for leaf guards to be installedand still drain out the front before entering the building. The overflowslots will bring attention to the building owner or manager that thereis a problem with the drainage without having to get on the roof forinspection. The corrugation in the gutter keeps the overflow slots frombeing visible from lower levels, enhances the gutters strength and isaesthetically pleasing.

There are different products on the market that each individuallyaddress various problems with standard gutter and leaf protection, butthe present invention provides significant novelty in that it addressesseveral different problems all in one step manufacturing without buyingdifferent components to piece together from different sources.

-   -   1. Eliminates the need for catch basins with overflow slots.    -   2. Allows for tall front flanges when needed.    -   3. Allows more capacity when the gutter sits level.    -   4. Allows gutter installation fasteners attached to the fascia        board to be installed above the drain slot level which is marked        on the backside and keeps fastener intrusion from rotting fascia        boards.    -   5. A common problem with leaf protection is leaf blooms can stop        up screens causing water to flow over the top of the gutter        washing out landscaping or puddle freezing water where there is        foot traffic, such as, sidewalks and porches but when this        happens, the novel gutter of the present invention, with built        in slots, not only addresses stopped up downspouts but will        catch water that overflows the screens.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a gutter system comprising:

-   -   a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a        building having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an        exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;    -   a water inlet configured for placement on a building, said inlet        constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity        from said building into said cavity;    -   a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side        defining a water overflow channel; and    -   a water overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through        said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away        from said interior side configured to direct waterflow from said        waterflow channels.

In one embodiment, the invention is further including flanges positioneddistal to said building, that is to say a proximal side is the sideattached to the building and the distal side is away from the building.Distal is used herein to describe away from the building.

In one embodiment, the main body is formed of a single unitary piece ofmaterial.

In one embodiment, the one or more discharge openings formed by rollforming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metalbefore forming, breaking, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the one or more discharge openings one or moredischarge openings are positioned below said water inlet.

In one embodiment, the invention is a gutter system consisting of:

-   -   a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a        building formed of a single unitary piece of material having        three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side,        whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;    -   a water inlet configured for placement on a building, said inlet        constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity        from said building into said cavity;    -   a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side        defining a water overflow channel, said one or more discharge        openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines,        press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, or        combinations thereof; and    -   a water overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through        said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away        from said interior side configured to direct waterflow from said        waterflow channels.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side top perspective view including a close-up of a corneraccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side bottom perspective view according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side cross section view demonstrating filling of the gutteraccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating overflow of thegutter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating water flow of agutter and invasion into an attached facia.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating overflow of thegutter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The system of the present invention is formed by manufacturing a gutterwith overflow slots. There are various configurations of the slotcontemplated and are formed by any one or combination of roll formingmachines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal beforeforming or breaking the metal and various other manufacturingtechniques.

The gutter of the present invention is formed such that main gutter body10 defines interior cavity 8. More specifically, the building gutterbody 10 has three sides, an interior, or proximal side 20, a bottom 22and an exterior, or distal side 24, whereby the sides defining aninterior cavity 8. Water flows by gravity into opening 7. The system isconstructed and arranged to provide for water to fill cavity 8 andoverflow is initiated. As indicated in FIG. 4, water 4 followsdirectional arrow 12 to the plurality of openings 6 and is pushed outalong outlet path indicated by directional arrow 14.

The system is demonstrated by the following components identified by theelement numbers and shown in the accompanying drawings.

-   -   1. Elevated flange 2 on the front side of gutter that captures        fast flowing rainwater, directional arrows 9, causing it to        drain back down inside the gutter system into cavity 8.    -   2. Overflow drain slots 6 on the front side of the gutter that        are below the back level of the gutter where it is attached (as        shown in FIG. 4) to the building allowing overfilled gutter to        eliminate rainwater before it enters the building causing        interior water damage.    -   3. Overflow slots 6 are not visible from the ground or lower        levels.

Figure element 5 demonstrates position of water entering the buildingfrom the back of an overfilled gutter in conventional systems.

In use, Gutter main body 10 is attached at proximal side 20 to theexterior of building 30 position such that is sloped roof 32 will directrain water into opening 7 and subsequently interior cavity 8. When waterlevel 4 reaches the level of opening 2, as demonstrated by directionalarrows 12 and 14, water will flow through openings 2 and effectivelycreate an outlet of water 6 from interior cavity 8.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form orembodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that thisdescription has been given only by way of example and that numerouschanges in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, includingthe combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A gutter system comprising: a building gutter main bodyconfigured for attachment to a building having three sides, an interiorside, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining aninterior cavity; a water inlet configured for placement on a building,said inlet constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravityfrom said building into said cavity; a one or more discharge openingsformed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel; and awater overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through saiddischarge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away from saidinterior side configured to direct waterflow from said waterflowchannels.
 2. The system of claim 1 including flanges positioned distalto said building.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said is formed of asingle unitary piece of material.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein saidone or more discharge openings formed by roll forming machines, punchingmachines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, orcombinations thereof.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or moredischarge openings one or more discharge openings are positioned belowsaid water inlet.
 6. A gutter system consisting of: a building guttermain body configured for attachment to a building formed of a singleunitary piece of material having three sides, an interior side, a bottomand an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity; awater inlet configured for placement on a building, said inletconstructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity from saidbuilding into said cavity; a one or more discharge openings formed onsaid exterior side defining a water overflow channel, said one or moredischarge openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines,press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, orcombinations thereof; and a water overflow outlet resultant from waterflowing through said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distaland away from said interior side configured to direct waterflow fromsaid waterflow channels. 7.